Can opener with removable cutter assembly

ABSTRACT

The cutting blade of an electric can opener is affixed to a main plate which is pivotally mounted on a post extending forwardly from the front face of the can opener case. A latching plate has one end thereof pivotally connected to the main plate with a handle on the other end. The latching plate has a slot in the bottom which fits into an annular groove in the post so as to lock the two plates onto the post against axial movement. With the latching plate pivoted upwardly with respect to the main plate it is disengaged from the post so that the assembly of the plates and the cutter can be removed for washing.

[ 5] June 25, 1974 CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE CUTTER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Edwin L. Oberto, Libertyville, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Burgess Vibrocraiters, Inc.,

Grayslake, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 303,853

Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant ExaminerMarc R. Davidson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Darbo, Robertson &

Vandenburgh 5 7] ABSTRACT The cutting blade of an electric can opener is affixed to a main plate which is pivotally mounted on a post extending forwardly from the front face of the can opener case. A latching plate has one end thereof pivotally connected to the main plate with a handle on the other end. The latching plate has a slot in the bottom which fits into an annular groove in the post so as to lock the two plates onto the post against axial movement. With the latching plate pivoted upwardly with respect to the main plate it is disengaged from the post so that the assembly of the plates and the cutter can be removed for washing.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE CU'I'I'ER ASSEMBLY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a simple apparatus to permit the ready removal of the cutting blade, can lid holder and mounting assembly therefor from the front of a can opener to facilitate cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 with the cutting blade, etc., assembly removed for cleaning;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the top portion of the can opener;

FIG. 4 is a section taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the front portion of the can opener as viewed at line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The following disclosure is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations. in form or additions or further improvements.

The can opener of the illustrated embodiment comprises a case formed by a front section and a rear section 11. These are molded of plastic. They fit together and are so held by screws, not shown. Within the case is an electric motor, not shown, which rotates a gear wheel 12. The gear wheel 12 is secured to a shaft on which a can feed wheel 13 is also affixed. The drive is such that the feed wheel 13 rotates in the direction' indicated by arrow 14 in FIG. 3. The feed wheel is positioned in front of the front wall 15 of the from section I0. The motor is energized through a switch 19 which is actuated by a downward movement of a button 16. When energized the rotation of the feed wheel moves the can in a manner such that a cutting blade 17 slices through the top of the can to separate the top from the remainder of the can. A magnet 18 attracts the top of iron cans and prevents the top from dropping into the can when the top is severed therefrom. As thus far described, the structure is representative of prior art electric can openers.

There is a post 22 which extends forwardly from the front wall 15 of the case. This post has an annular groove 23 adjacent the distal end thereof, the part of the post at the base of the groove being of reduced cross-section as compared with the remainder of the post. The post is to the left of the feed wheel and cutting blade as the front of the can opener is viewed, i.e. it is in that horizontal direction from the feed wheel and cutting blade in which the top of the cutting wheel 13 moves while the cutting wheel is rotating. A main plate 24 has an opening 25 therein. This opening is of a size just to fit about the post 22. The plate is thereby rotatable about the post. Cutting blade 17 is afiixed to main plate 24 by means of a screw 26.

A locking plate 28 has one end pivotally connected to themain plate by means of a rivet 29. At the other end of the locking plate is a handle 30. The locking plate has a top flange 31 which overlies and contacts the top of the main plate 24. Extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the locking plate is a U-shaped slot 32. This slot is of a size just to fit over that part of the post which is at the base of groove 23, with the portions of the locking plate adjacent the slot being received in the groove. Thereby the assembly of the two plates is locked against axial movement along post 22, while permitting a rotational movement about the post.

An arm 34 is pivotally connected to locking plate 28 by means of a rivet 35. At the distal end of arm 34is an opening through which a headed post 36 slidably extends. This post is secured to magnet 18. A spring 37 surrounds post 36 and bears against the head at one end and against the arm 34 at the other end.

A pin 39 is threaded into main plate 24. The pin has a head 40 with a screwdriver slot therein. This pin extends through an arcuate slot 41 in the front wall 15 of the body. At the rear of the front wall the pin is positioned between an arm 42 and a leaf spring 43. Leaf spring 43 is secured to the body by means of a screw 44 threaded into the body. It does not move upwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 5, but post 39 can force the distal end of the leaf spring downwardly from the illustrated position. Arm 42 is pivotally mounted on a post 45 (forming a part of the body) and is held on the post by a washer 46 which frictionally engages the post. Between the washer and the arm is a coil spring having one end 47 bearing against a projecting part of the body, such as boss 48, with the other end 48 of the spring bearing against a projection 50 on the arm 42. Thus the effect of the spring is to urge the arm 42 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. The extent of that movement of the arm is limited by a stop 51 comprising a projecting part of the body.

Thus, there is a space between the arm and leaf spring 43 into which the pin 39 can readily project. The spring loaded arm 42 permits movement of the pin 39 clockwise in FIG. 5 (counterclockwise in FIGS. 1-3), while resisting that movement by reason of the force of the spring. A limited amount of movement in the opposite direction is permitted by the leaf spring 43.

Normally, the parts are assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. By pressing down on handle 30 the assembly of the plates 24, 28 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about pin 22. This separates cutter 17 from wheel 13 to permit the ready insertion of a can between the cutter and the wheel, or to permit the ready removal of a can. When the downward pressure is taken off of handle 30, the spring-loaded arm 42, hearing against pin 39, returns the assembly of the plates 24, 28, to the illustrated position. Had a can been interposed, the clockwise rotation of plates 24, 28 would have ended with cutter l7 resting on the lid of the can. Then by depressing button l6-to energize the electric motor, the wheel 13 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction of arrow 14 to move the can into the cutting blade and thereby sever the lid from the can. This movement of the can causes the can lid to press against the cutting blade and to urge the blade to the left in FIG. 3. In response to that urging plates 24, 28 are pivoted clockwise about post 22, the movement being such that the blade punctures the lid of the can. The extent of movement of the main plate in a clockwise direction (against the resistance of leaf spring 43) is limited by contact between the main plate 24 and post 53.

When cleaning is required, the locking plate 28 is pivoted upwardly to the dot dash line position illustrated in FIG. 3. This releases the plate assembly to permit movement of the main plate 24 axially along post 22. Thus the assembly comprising the plates 24, 28, the cutter 17, the pin 39 and the magnet 18 are all detached. This assembly can then be put in a dishpan or a dishwasher for cleaning. The front face of the opener and the drive wheel 13 are fully exposed so that they may be easily wiped clean with a rag or paper towel. When the parts have been cleaned the main plate 24 is again slipped over post 22 and the locking plate 28 depressed so as to again engage the post 22.

I claim:

1. In an electric can opener having a case with a front wall, a power driven rotating can feed wheel positioned in front of said front wall, and a cutting blade positioned adjacent said wheel, the improvement comprismg:

a cylindrical post projecting from said front wall, said post having a peripheral groove therein;

a main plate pivotally mounted on said post, said cutting blade being affixed to said main plate; and

a locking plate pivotally connected to said main plate, said locking plate having a slot in the bottom edge thereof which slot is of a size to fit about the part of the post at the base of the groove with the portions of the locking plate about the edge slot thereof fitting within the groove to thereby lock the two plates onto the post;

whereby said locking plate may be pivoted upwardly to disengage it from the post and the main plate, with the parts affixed thereto, removed from the post for cleaning.

2. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main plate has an inner face adjacent said front wall and an exposed face opposite said inner face, said blade being outwardly from the exposed face of the main plate.

3. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 1 wherein as the can is being opened there is a drag on the blade urging said blade and main plate in a given rotational direction about said post, including stop means operatively associated with said main plate and preventing the rotational movement of the main plate in said given rotational direction beyond a given position, resilient means, means operatively connecting said resilient means, said main plate, and said case for resiliently urging said main plate in said given rotational direction, said locking plate having an end spaced from said pivotal connection and on the opposite side of said post in a direction such that downward pressure on said end urges said plates in a rotational direction that is the reverse of said given rotational direction.

4. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 3, wherein said connecting means includes a pin attached to said main plate and extending through said front wall into said case, said resilient means being within said case and bearing against said pin, said front wall having a slot through which said pin extends and which permits said pin to move about said post.

5. In an electric can opener having a case with a front wall, a power driven rotating can feed wheel positioned in front of said front wall and rotating in a manner such that the top of the wheel moves in a given horizontal direction, and a cutting blade positioned adjacent said wheel, the improvement comprising:

a cylindrical post projecting from said front wall and positioned in said direction from said wheel;

a main plate assembly pivotally mounted on said post and including a handle in said direction from said post, said blade being attached to said assembly and positioned adjacent said wheel, said assembly including means at the front thereof releasably connecting the assembly and the post so that the assembly may be readily removed from the can opener for cleaning, said assembly including a main plate having an opening through which said post extends, and a locking plate pivotally connected to the main plate at a location in the reverse of said direction from said post, said locking plate extending in said direction from said connection with said handle being at the distal end of said locking plate, said releasable connecting means interconnecting said locking plate and said post and being disengaged by an upward movement of said handle.

6. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 5, wherein as the can is being opened there is a drag on the blade urging said blade and main plate in a given rotational direction about said post, including stop means operatively associated with said main plate and preventing the rotational movement of the main plate in said given rotational direction beyond a given position, resilient means, means operatively connecting said resilient means, said main plate, and said case for resiliently urging said main plate in said given rotational direction, said locking plate having an end spaced from said pivotal connection and on the opposite side of said post in a direction such that downward pressure on said end urges said plates in a rotational direction that is the reverse of said given rotational directron. 

1. In an electric can opener having a case with a front wall, a power driven rotating can feed wheel positioned in front of said front wall, and a cutting blade positioned adjacent said wheel, the improvement comprising: a cylindrical post projecting from said front wall, said post having a peripheral groove therein; a main plate pivotally mounted on said post, said cutting blade being affixed to said main plate; and a locking plate pivotally connected to said main plate, said locking plate having a slot in the bottom edge thereof which slot is of a size to fit about the part of the post at the base of the groove with the portions of the locking plate about the edge slot thereof fitting within the groove to thereby lock the two plates onto the post; whereby said locking plate may be pivoted upwardly to disengage it from the post and the main plate, with the parts affixed thereto, removed from the post for cleaning.
 2. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main plate has an inner face adjacent said front wall and an exposed face opposite said inner face, said blade being outwardly from the exposed face of the main plate.
 3. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 1 wherein as the can is being opened there is a drag on the blade urging said blade and main plate in a given rotational direction about said post, including stop means operatively associated with said main plate and preventing the rotational movement of the main plate in said given rotational direction beyond a given position, resilient means, means operatively connecting said resilient means, said main plate, and said case for resiliently urging said main plate in said given rotational direction, said locking plate having an end spaced from said pivotal connection and on the opposite side of said post in a direction such that downward pressure on said end urges said plates in a rotational direction that is the reverse of said given rotational direction.
 4. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 3, wherein said connecting means includes a pin attached to said main plate and extending through said front wall into said case, said resilient means being within said case and bearing against said pin, said front wall having a slot through which said pin extends and which permits said pin to move about said post.
 5. In an electric can opener having a case with a front wall, a power driven rotating can feed wheel positioned in front of said front wall and rotating in a manner such that the top of the wheel moves in a given horizontal direction, and a cutting blade positioned adjacent said wheel, the improvement comprising: a cylindrical post projecting from said front wall and positioned in said direction from said wheel; a main plate assembly pivotally mounted on said post and including a handle in said direction from said post, said blade being attached to said assembly and positioned adjacent said wheel, said assembly including means at the front thereof releasably connecting the assembly and the post so that the assembly may be readily removed from the can opener for cleaning, said assembly including a main plate having an opening through which said post extends, and a locking plate pivotally connected to the main plate at a location in the reverse of said direction from said post, said locking plate extending in said direction from said connection with said handle being at The distal end of said locking plate, said releasable connecting means interconnecting said locking plate and said post and being disengaged by an upward movement of said handle.
 6. In an electric can opener as set forth in claim 5, wherein as the can is being opened there is a drag on the blade urging said blade and main plate in a given rotational direction about said post, including stop means operatively associated with said main plate and preventing the rotational movement of the main plate in said given rotational direction beyond a given position, resilient means, means operatively connecting said resilient means, said main plate, and said case for resiliently urging said main plate in said given rotational direction, said locking plate having an end spaced from said pivotal connection and on the opposite side of said post in a direction such that downward pressure on said end urges said plates in a rotational direction that is the reverse of said given rotational direction. 